Ronan. Finn. And Declan.
What they’d done for me after the salon incident threatened to undo every single bad thought about Clover Hill.
“Bree?” Diane’s voice cut through my reverie. “Come on, girl. You still with me? Did you lose connection?”
“I’m here.” I tucked my thoughts away and focused. “Can I work the Harrington project remotely like the others?”
“For a while, yes.” Diane’s lips puckered. “Tricia prefers a hands-on approach, but she wants you bad enough to do things your way.” A beat of hesitation tightened her boss’s forehead. “But I thought you were coming back.”
“I…” What did I say? I couldn’t tell my boss I’d fallen in love with three men and would rather turn my whole life upside down to move here. That was crazy talk. They made me happy. Deliriously, satisfyingly happy. Imagining my life without them turned my brain to mush, and I absolutely hated the idea of ending things with them.
But things hadn’t gotten better around town. Bethany hadn’t done anything else to me, but the whispers intensified. The weight of the town’s judgment weighed on me, pressing me into the ground. I struggled to look anyone in the eye when they came into the pub, and it had gotten to the point that I noticed every absence. It wasn’t just Tammy’s stool or the corner where she used to gather with her friends that remained empty. Other regulars in the older crowd who’d been Nana’s friends stopped coming two weeks ago.
No one gave an explanation.
When I asked Declan, he shrugged and avoided the subject with nothing more than a quip that Clover Hill could get over its fucking self. Finn agreed wholeheartedly. Ronan…well, Ronan gave me that quiet look of his and promised it would all blow over.
“I have some stuff to wrap up here. I’ll talk to you as soon as I know something.” I focused on the phone.
Diane sat with her arms folded on top of the desk, her glasses reflecting her laptop screen. “I’m sorry, Bree. I hope whatever is bothering you works out. We miss you, and I hope you come back soon.” She tapped the screen, and mine went black.
Damn it. I might not have ruined things at my job, but Diane had to be getting tired of my non-answers. She’d been great this whole time, letting me work remotely so I could keep my income stable. She deserved better from me.
The quiet pub reminded me I didn’t have much time left to squander. Three months ago, I walked in here with a plan to hear the will and get out.
It wasn’t that easy anymore, even though I’d worn out my welcome and the residents of Clover Hill used their absence to make a point that let me know loud and clear they were done with me.
By the time the grand opening kicked off, I’d almost convinced myself it was all in my head. People packed into the pub until it was standing room only. Laughter and cheers rang out, along with the bell Declan banged behind the bar when someone bought a round.
“This is either inspired or completely insane.” I shouted at Declan in passing.
He shrugged and filled five orders from the taps. “Why can’t it be both?” He smiled and passed out the drinks.
I eyed the flyers in the front window. Finn had taped up a bunch around town and promised everyone from the fire house would come by.
Declan reached past me. “Jamesons getting low. You mind asking Ronan to grab an extra from the stock room?” He normally handled that himself, but I’d asked to do more of the running back and forth tonight.
“Sure.” I dropped my empty tray on the bar and washed the sticky residue from my hands before heading toward the back hallway.
Ronan stood at the edge of the bar, his arms crossed and a tight look pinching the space between his eyes. He caught sight of me and smiled. “Hey.”
“Hi.” I stopped a few feet away, using the space to remind myself I couldn’t kiss him, not here. I gave him Declan’s request and waited for his nod.
“Finn’s here.” He jerked his head toward the front.
Finn’s voice rose above the crowd, and a cheer nearly burst my eardrums.
I turned to look for him, catching sight of his station jacket first and following it up to his broad shoulders and blonde hair. A table full of women noticed him too, all but fanning their faces as hearts jumped from their eyes like the old cartoons.
Finn hung his coat by the door and rolled up his sleeves. Turning, his grin widened. “Looks like you need backup.”
“Because you’re late.” I tossed a towel at him.
He laughed and chucked it right back at me, walking across the pub like no one else in the world existed. His head didn’t so much as twitch or his eyes slide away from mine. He walked right up into my space, reached over my head, and pulled down his favorite mug from the top shelf. “I’m here now.”
Oh boy, was he ever.
I took a step back, my spine catching on the wall and digging into my skin.
